HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-09-11, Page 6Huron County councillors
approved several
recommendations regarding
the Hugh Thomas report at
the Sept. 3 meeting.
With the departure of two
senior staff members earlier
in the year and having
received the consultant’s
report which was received in
principle by council, chief
administrative officer Larry
Adams retained the services
of a professional third party,
Ross Dunsmore, to clarify the
recommendation and assist
Adams in incorporating them
into the county operations.
Adams then recommended
several changes to the
provision of administrative
services to all departments of
the county, in a report to
committee of the whole in
August.
The first was to bring an
additional professional staff
member to human resources
for a staff complement of five
as under the previous director
and as recommended by the
report.
Second was a designated
front-line staff person
assigned to each department
by human resources and
treasury, allowing the
treasurer and director the
ability to focus and deal with
the greater demands of their
respective positions and to
develop policies and
procedures for the benefit of
the entire organization.
An executive assistant be
retained for the warden and
CAO to provide
administrative support, more
time to focus on bigger
picture items and give the
CAO more freedom to deal
with staff issues and concerns.
Fourth is that Adams be
authorized to retain a
professional to train and assist
himself, his senior
management team and
council in the creation of a
performance appraisal
system.
Finally service agreements
are not required or needed by
the county.
After discussion at
committee a motion was
made to table the
recommendations. This was
defeated.
The recommendations were
then dealt with individually.
The first was approved, the
second was deferred until
budget information, as was
the third pending further
financial input.
The fourth carried with the
addition that the training be
expanded to allow lower-tier
participation if desired.
A recorded vote was called
for the fifth recommendation,
which was approved 14-3,
with three councillors absent.
County councillors
supported the committee
recommendations with no
debate.
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008.Dam’s still waters a mosquito breeding ground
County acts on report
North Huron clerk-
administrator Kriss Snell says
shovels should be in the
ground very soon for
Wingham’s new Canadian
Tire.
A site plan was formally
submitted to the municipality
of North Huron last week.
While there are still some
kinks to be ironed out, Snell
said at North Huron council’s
Sept. 2 meeting, the site plan
is very close to final.
There have been minor
snags in the plan, but the
building permit stage is
nearly complete, Snell said.
A ratepayer’s appeal to the
Ontario Municipal Board has
also been withdrawn, closing
the file on that objection.
The site will feature a
three-pump gas bar with a
pay kiosk, which Snell says,
is not a problem, as the
property was already zoned
for a gas bar approximately
eight years ago.
In the current plans, the
Canadian Tire corporation is
planning on constructing both
the entrance and exit to lead
onto Hwy. 86.
This will mean, Snell said,
that Tim Hortons will most-
likely lose its laneway that
leads to Hwy. 86, which will
also alleviate the current
situation of transport trucks
and school buses parking on
that lot.
The entrance and exit,
however, are the main points
that Snell stresses are not set
in stone. Currently, Canadian
Tire’s traffic engineer is still
working with the concept.
The hope, Snell says, is that
entrance and exit will be able
to come from Hwy. 86.
The mosquito population inBrussels is alive and thrivingonce again.
And with the
announcement by the Huron
County Health Unit that the
virus has moved into the
county, as indicated by the
positive testing of two dead
crows found in Goderich
recently, residents may be
wondering if there is a greater
concern for them.
Public health inspector Paul
Dawson, while admitting that
the number of mosquitoes
seems to be a problem feels
that at this point it’s primarily
a nuisance factor.
“I know they are awful
there. I was in Brussels
testing and didn’t know if I’d
have any blood left,” he
laughs.
However, Dawson adds that
there are 50 species of
mosquitoes and only a
handful actually carry the
virus. “We do check there
regularly and the mosquitoes
we are finding are not
necessarily what we’re
looking for.”
The health unit, therefore,
will not be getting involved in
any eradication program.
“There’s not a year goes by
that we don’t get call from
Brussels,” said Dawson. “And
I know, they are awful there.
But, larvaciding wouldn’t
happen unless there’s a
positive mosquito pool orhuman case. In seven or eightyears that we’ve beenmonitoring, there has neverbeen a homegrown humancase of West Nile.”
Humans get the disease
when a mosquito bites a
positive bird, then bites a
person. The virus hasn’t been
found in mosquitoes here.
Dawson said the mosquitoes
most likely to bit a person are
the ones breeding in
backyards. “Cleaning up
standing water is the best way
to reduce mosquitoes.”
However, a stroll over the
Brussels dam recently shows
that the problem in that town
anyway, may be a bigger
issue. “Any standing water
that doesn’t move and
remains that way is a potential
mosquito breeding site.”
Dave Grummett of the
Maitland Valley Conservation
Authority, which owns the
property said what’s needed is
a good uniform rain. “We
need rain to keep the flows
up. We could eliminate the
problem by lifting boards but
then you get low water and
that’s only going to aggravate
the situation.”
Anytime the water gets
down below the level of the
top board in the dam, “it’s a
better habitat for mosquitoes,”
said Grummett.
“When the water’s moving
it’s not as critical. I guess it’s
the price you pay for living
beside a river.”
Still waters run murky
It was not the picture perfect scene one usually sees at the Brussels dam last week. The still waters
covered in green slime creating the perfect mosquito breeding ground. Maitland Valley Conservation
Authority’s Dave Grummett said a good uniform rain would make the difference by raising the levels and
creating flow. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Growing Forward
AgriInvest accounts are built on government and farmer contributions. It’s fl exible -
farmers can use the money to manage small income declines, reduce their business
risk or increase their market income.
To be eligible, all producers, including those who received money under AgriInvest
Kickstart, must apply for 2007 AgriInvest. There is no automatic enrollment.
To receive your full government contribution, your tax form must be received by
September 30, 2008. Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2008, but a
penalty will be applied.
Apply by checking the box on your 2007 farm tax form or contact the call centre
at 1-866-367-8506. The call centre will be open for extended hours on Saturday,
September 20th and 27th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT. To learn more, visit
www.agr.gc.ca/agriinvest
AgriStability is a margin-based program to support farmers when they have a
margin decline of 15% or more.
Participants who are in financial distress can receive half of their estimated 2008
AgriStability benefit by submitting an Interim Payment Application.
Remember to pay your 2008 AgriStability fee before December 31, 2008.
To learn more, or for an application form, call 1-877-838-5144 or visit
www.agricorp.com
Growing Forward
A vision for a profitable, innovative, competitive, market-oriented agriculture, agri-foods
and agri-based products industry.
AgriInvest and AgriStability
By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Canadian Tire on the way
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen